London: Wayde van Niekerk’s dreams of emulating legend Michael Johnson’s 200m/400m world double lay in tatters as Turkey’s 9/1 outsider Ramil Guliyev edged the 200m final in the World Championships.
Guliyev’s win on Thursday night may not have been following the script the organisers wished for after two-time doping cheat Justin Gatlin’s win in the 100m upset superstar Usain Bolt’s farewell.
Normal order was restored, however, in the night’s other two finals with the United States going one-two in both.
Christian Taylor won his third world title in the triple jump with his great rival Will Claye taking silver just as he has done in two successive Olympic Games.
However, Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad was unable to add the world gold as she was run out of first by compatriot Kori Carter, the 25-year-old previously regarded as a journeywoman.
van Niekerk, who had won the 400m earlier in the week, took a swipe at people who he feels have belittled his achievements.
“There are many people who don’t think I deserve this,” said the 25-year-old, who produced the performance of the Olympics last year breaking the 400m world record in winning gold. “I work as hard as every other competitor. I don’t think I got the respect I deserved after the 400m (winning the world gold) but it’s the beginning. I will show my dominance.”
As Guliyev’s win was confirmed after a thrilling finish to the 200m, some boos rang out and thousands of spectators couldn’t make the exit quickly enough.
The 27-year-old Azerba-ijan-born sprinter, who became a Turkish citizen in 2011, then draped himself in both the Turkish and Azeri flags as he performed his lap of honour.
Turkish leaders and media hailed Guliyev’s historic gold medal in the 200 metres.
